All Over Albany

Paterson now snagged in Yankees ticket flap, new Troy city hall won't be cheap, Proctors expanding, cookies for Oscar

The state Commission on Public Integrity announced yesterday that it's asked prosecutors to look into whether David Paterson should be charged for giving false testimony during an ethics inquiry about Yankees World Series Tickets. The commission says it found:

"... there is reasonable cause to believe that Governor Paterson solicited, received and accepted an unlawful gift; and falsely testified under oath that he had always intended to pay for the tickets for his son and his son's friend when, in fact, the Governor's intention was to receive and accept the tickets without paying for them until a press inquiry caused him to submit a backdated check as payment for the tickets."

When asked yesterday whether he lied during the ethics investigation, Paterson said: "No." Paterson's story about how he ended up with the tickets has changed multiple times. In response to one of the Paterson administration's versions, the president of the Yankees told the NY Post the governor was "a liar." The Paterson aide who reportedly approached the Yankees: David Johnson. [NYS COPI] [TU] [NYT] [NY Post] [NYDN]

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio was in Scotia yesterday and told a gathering of Republicans that "the people of New York deserve better than what they've been getting." He also criticized Andrew Cuomo for "ducking and bobbing and weaving - avoiding taking positions." [CapNews9] [Daily Gazette $] [Fox23]

"Several hundred" people showed up for yesterday's state parks rally outside the Capitol. Jack McEneny said he's been getting more mail about the parks closures than all proposed budget cuts combined. [TU] [Troy Record]

The 12 jurors for the Steven Raucci case have been selected. Potential jurors were screened for their thoughts on firecrackers and the use of informants. As part of jury selection, potential witness lists surfaced -- and many current and former top officials for the Schenectady school district are on the lists. [TU] [Daily Gazette $] [WNYT] [Daily Gazette $]

Consultants for the City of Troy report that building a new city hall could cost somewhere between $21 million and $25.5 million. Here's a live blog transcript from last night's meeting. [TU] [City of Troy]

The family of the parolee shot and killed by Albany police last month say they wonder why the man was allowed to stay out on parole after failing multiple drug tests. [TU]

The state labor department is looking to help prep local people for jobs at the GlobalFoundries chip fab. [Post-Star]

Another Republican has entered the pool of challengers for NY 20th Congressional seat (Scott Murphy).

Proctors has acquired the former Key Bank just down the street and plans turn it into a hall for events. Key sold the building for $150,000 and naming rights. [Daily Gazette $] [TU]

Yetraj Mangar, the Schenectady man who pleaded guilty to killing his wife with a hatchet in 2008, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. [TU] [Daily Gazette $]

Albany police say two men were stabbed during a fight inside the TU Center Tuesday night while the high school basketball playoff games were going on. [CapNews9] [Fox23]

Schuylerville is now officially considering the idea of dissolution. [Post-Star]

NYRA is scraping for money. Again. [Saratogian]

The MAAC basketball tournament is expected to generate more than $1 million in spending in Albany this weekend. [Daily Gazette]

Cookies made by a small Mechanicville company will be in Oscar swag bags. [TU]